Baku: On July 7, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation from Pakistan led by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Speaker of the National Assembly. The meeting underscored the robust political ties between the two nations, highlighting their foundation on brotherhood, mutual support, and solidarity.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev reflected on the recent participation of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Khankendi, and their subsequent meeting. Discussions during the summit focused on the bilateral agenda, and the President noted that this was not Prime Minister Sharif’s first visit to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories. He recalled the Prime Minister’s earlier visit to Lachin in May and his attendance at an event commemorating Azerbaijan’s Independence Day.

The meeting emphasized the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan across various sectors, including politics, economy, and investments. The President highlighted the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in broadening these relations and praised the mutual support shown by the parliamentary delegations of both countries in international forums. He expressed optimism that the Pakistani delegation’s visit would yield productive results.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq expressed gratitude for the warm reception and emphasized the honor of visiting Azerbaijan. He noted that the delegation comprised members from both the ruling party and the opposition in Pakistan’s National Assembly, reflecting a unified support for Azerbaijan. The Speaker underscored the importance of inter-parliamentary relations, pointing out the consistent solidarity shown by Azerbaijan and Pakistan in both challenging and celebratory times.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq also congratulated President Aliyev on the successful organization of the 17th ECO Summit, highlighting its political significance and praising the reconstruction efforts in Karabakh and East Zangezur. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the expansion of inter-parliamentary relations and further cooperation between the legislative bodies of both countries.

The discussions also explored prospects for collaboration in areas such as economy, trade, energy, industry, investments, transport, and tourism, reinforcing the strong ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.